Reclosable container with ripping opener



:inventor Dec. 30, ,1947. J. coYLE RECLOSABLECONTAINER WITH RI-PPING OPENER Filed Nov. 20, 1944 Patented Dec. 30, 1947 REcLosABLE CONTAINER wrrn RIPPING OPENER John Coyle, Baltimore, Md., assignor to Continental Can Company, Inc., New York, N.V Y., a corporation of New Yorkv Application November 20, 1944, Serial No. 564,264

4 Claims. (Cl. 220-53) The invention relates generally to container structures and primarily seeks to provide a novel form of container which can be'readily opened by manipulation of a tear strand and which is so constructed that it can be reclosed and reopened at will after the initial opening thereof.

In its more detailed nature the invention resides in providing a novel container structure includ-4 ing a body and a closure, said body and closure having channels in which are secured edge portions of a fibrous band forming a seal between said body and closure, and a tear strand embedded in said band and which can be torn out of the band to divide the band edge portions secured in the respective body and closure channels and effect an opening of the container.

Another object of the invention is to provide a container structure of the character stated in which the tear strand is so placed that the tearing out thereof will leave a portion of the fibrous band extending downwardly as a reclosure skirt from the closure, and in which the body includes an upstanding flange or wall portion engageable as a reclosure elementin said skirt.

Another object of the invention is to provide a container structure of the character stated in which the fibrous band is formed of a paper web convolutel wound with the tear strand laid in and projec ing at its end from the convolutions.

With the above and other objects in view that will hereinafter appear, the nature of the invention will be more clearly understood by reference to the following detailed description, the appended claims, and the several views illustrated in the accompanying drawing.

In the drawing:

Figure 1 is a side elevationillustrating a container embodying the invention, parts being broken away and in section.

Figure 2 is a horizontal section taken on the line 2-'2 on Figure 1.

Figure 3 is an enlarged fragmentary perspective view illustrating a portion of' the closure.

Figure 4 is a fragmentary vertical cross sectional view illustrating the closure in the body and closure separated condition after the tearing out of the tear strand.

Figure 5 is a view similar to Figure 4, the closure being mounted on the body to eiect a reclosure thereof.

In the example of embodiment of the invention herein disclosed, the container includes a metal body 5 having a bottom closure 6 of any approved type, and a top closure generally designated 'l and embodying novel reclosure features.

'I'he can body at the end adapted to receive the I closure 1 is turned outwardly and downwardly as at 8 and then upwardly as at 8 to form an annular channel IIJ surrounding the container body and defined by the outer short wall 9 and the inner long wall 8. It will be observed by reference to Figures 3 and 4 of the drawing that the upper extremity Il of the body formed by the juncture of the body wall 5 and the inner or long channel deiining wall 8 is spaced a considerable distance above the upper extremity of the outer or short channel wall'9, and the reason for this upward projection of the body extremity will become apparent as the description progresses.

The channel I0 isadapted to receive the lower edge of a fibrous band I2 preferably formed by convolutely winding a web of paper, and the band is securely clamped in said channel by embedding the upper edge extremity of the outer or short channel wall 9 as at I3. It will be apparent by refernce to Figures 2 and 3 of the drawing that a tea strand I4 is laid in the convolutions of the flbrous band so as to project at its ends from said convolutions as at I5. In Figure 3 of the drawing the outer end extremity I5 is clearly illustrated as extending beyond the outer end'ofthe paper convolution designated I6 so as to provide a finger grip portion. y

The cover or closure generally designated 1 includes a main central body portion adapted to rest upon the upper extremity I l of the body when the parts are assembled in the manner illustrated in Figures 1, 3`and 5 of the drawing and said closure includes an upwardly extended ilange portion Il of the same diameter as the inner channel wall 8 and a downwardly turned flange portion I 8 of the same diameter as the outer channel wall 9, said walls Il and I8 cooperating inproviding a downwardly opening channel I9 in which to receive the upper edge of the paper band l2. The lower edge extremity of the channel wall I8 Iis indented in the outer surface of the band I2 as at 20, and the band I2 being thus secured in and between the upwardly opening channel I 0 and the downwardly opening channel I9 serves to seal the container in the manner clearly illustrated in Figures 1 and 3.

When it is desired to open the container, it is only necessary to grasp the free outer end I5 of the tearstrand I4 and tear out said strand. thereby tearing through the individual convolutions and dividing the channel gripped portions of the paper strip I2 so that the closure can be lifted from the body in the manner illustrated in Figure 4. By reason of the upward projection of ity of the outer channel wall 9 and the placement ol the tear strand I4 immediately above the level or the indented extremity I3 of said outer channel wall, when the tear strand Il is torn out to divide the paper band as at 2| in Figure 4, a reclosure skirt portion is left depending from the upper channel I9 which can bereadily slipped over the can body extremity Il and the upstanding inner channel wall 8 to effect a reclosure of the container. This novel container structure can be very easily opened without use of special tools', and a snug reclosure feature is provided which is devoid of all objectionable raw edge portions. Y

While one iorm of the invention has been shown for purposes oi! illustration, it is to be clearly understood that various changes in the details of construction and arrangement of parts may be made without departing from the spiritA and scope of the invention as deilned in the appended claims.

I claim:

1. A container including a body and a closure,

said body and closure having channels in which are secured edge portions of a ilbrous band forming a seal between said body and closure, and a tear strand embedded in and extending 'at least once about said band and which can be torn out of the band to divide the' band edge portions secured in the respective body and closure channels and eiect an opening of the container, said body having a wall portion extending upwardly within the band above the position of the tear strand therein so that when the tear strand is torn out a reclosure skirt portion of the band will remain attached to the closure for reclosure engagement over said wall portion.

2. A container including a metal body having an upwardly opening channel surrounding an end thereof and defined by an outer short wall and an inner long wall extending above the upper limit of said short wall, a metal closure having a body portion engageable as a rest stop on said inner wall and a downwardly opening channel opposing the body channel; a fibrous band having its upper and lower edge portions secured in the closure and body channels and forming a seal between said closure and body, and a tear strand embedded in and extending at least once about said band just above the upper limit of the outer wall and which can be torn out of the band to divide the band edge portions secured in the respective body and closure channels and eiect an opening of the container.

3. A container including a metal body having an upwardly opening channel surrounding an end thereof and deilned by an outer short -wall and an inner long wall extending above the upper limit ot said short wall, a metal closure having a body portion engageable as a rest stop on said inner wall and a downwardly opening channel opposing the body channel, a fibrous band having its upper and lower edge portions secured in the closure and body channels and forming a seall between said closure and body, and a tear strand embedded in and extending at least once about said band just above the upper limit of the outer wall and which can be torn out oi the band to divide the band edge portions secured in the respective body and closure channels and effect an opening of the container, said band comprising a convolutely wound i'lbrous web and said strand being laid in and projecting at its outer end from the convolutions.

1 4. A container including a metal body having an upwardly opening channel surrounding an end thereof and defined by an outer short wall and an inner long wall extending above the upper limit of said short wall, a metal closure having a body portion engageable as a rest stop on said inner Wall and a downwardly opening channel opposing the body channel, a fibrous band having its upper and lower edge portions secured in the closure and body channels and forming a seal between said closure and body, and a tear strand embedded in and extending at least once about said band just above the upper limit of the outer wall and which can be torn out of the band to divide the band edge portions secured in the respective body and closure channels and eiiect an opening of the container, said band comprising a convolutely wound fibrous web and said strand being laid in and projecting at both ends from the convolutions.

' JOHN COYLE.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record ln the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Burns May 30, 1944 

